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October 28, 2008
Dispatches from Nowhere 10/28/2008
This morning I was listening to Metallica's "... and justice for all" and I have this really vivid memory of sitting in a classroom end of my seventh grade year (I think it was seventh grade) and listening to all the kids answer the teacher's question of "what's your favorite album of this year?" And as I sat there and watched every prep, jock, cheerleader and other kid that made my life a living hell that year spit out the same answer (as if by rote) that "....and justice for all" was their favorite album of the year, I remember deliberately choosing something else (probably Girls, Girls, Girls by Motley Crue even though it was at least 2 years old by then - maybe it was The Cure's Kiss Me album. I don't remember).
What I do remember, rather vicerally, is that I could not (and apparenly still cannot) stomach the idea of sharing any thing with those people that made life so hard for me. I don't remember what it was that made me hate those people, I'm sure it was all stupid shit, stuff only kids do to each other and take personally. I mean, I can't recall an incident in detail, but I remember hating middle and most of high school for the same reasons (and mostly, the same people).
I love "...and justice for all". It's a great album, musically interesting and it heralds a transition in Metallica's musical approach. The thing is, every time I hear it, I can feel that same hate, those same feelings of "Fuck you. I won't admit to this album being on my radar because you fucking people like it. Fuck. You."
It's funny how hard it hits, even all these years later.
Last night, at dinner "One" came on the jukebox. The boy asked who played the song and I told him. He was excited because he could relate it to a Rock Band song that he can play. He was thrilled. We talked about the drum work in the song and how intricate it was. He's excited about the song and how it relates to other songs that he knows. It's neat to watch and be part of.
I wonder which will be the stronger memory in 15 years.
Posted by Matt at October 28, 2008 12:50 PM